Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Completed Competitive Grant

An internship program to help institutional food buyers develop links to local farms in northeast Iowa

Project ID: 2001-13

Abstract

Iowa college interns worked with the UNI Local Food Project, food buyers, and farmers to improve local food purchasing processes.

Key Question: How can we improve the marketing of local food products?

Findings: We have documented that we have expanded local markets for locally grown agricultural products significantly by organizing around one metro area, by working with all players in the food system, and by articulating the multiple benefits of having farmers near us who grow the food we eat.

Lead investigator: Kamyar Enshyan, University of Northern Iowa

Year of grant completion: 2005

This competitive grant project was part of the Leopold Center's Initiative.

Topics: Business management, distribution and marketing, Community-based food systems, Food miles, food pathways, food system assessments